Strike...again

So there is another strike on Monday...good thing I am traveling this weekend! I took the midnight bus last night to Viña del Mar are arrived this morning at 7:30am. I found a hostel and crashed for a while and then took hot shower. Now I am getting ready to go exploring...and find a money gram because I accidently left my debit card in the cash machine a week ago on one of my really depressed days.

Quick recap...after the violent sit in last week classes returned to normal as if nothing had happened. The students were more attentive after some of them had spent the afternoon with the police. There were dissapointed looks given by teachers to the students who participated in the protest but other than that...pretty calm. The desks were salvaged and although tables were broken and chairs were cut in half, they were put to use.

One of my goals for this trip was to become more comfortable with being alone...my biggest fear in life is being lonely. I´d say that this is the best way of conquering that fear. Riding a bus alone, finding a hostel alone, exploring a city alone. I was feeling pretty down for a while but I think I was just tired. Then the sun came out in Viña del Mar and I came for a cup of REAL coffee (hard to find in Chile) at this cafe while I wait for my friends to arrive. They are coming later tonight because they had to teach today.

Something soooo cool just happened! As I was sitting here typing I was eavesdropping on a girl who was talking on the phone in English about a book about becoming independent and positive in a selfless. Then she went on to talk about why she was in Chile (explore, make and impact and become independent...similar to me). After she got off the phone I asked her about the book and we started talking. She is from Canada and she came with a friend to snowboard and hang out but is looking for volunteer work because she is here until January. We are going to hang out today :) Sweet! I´m off to explore!

Hope everything is going well for everyone! I love and miss you all!